Family who lost dog during Sandy finds it at pound

People stand next to a house collapsed from superstorm Sandy in East Haven, Conn. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

EATONTOWN, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey family whose terrier-pitbull mix escaped from their backyard during Superstorm Sandy went to an animal shelter this week to adopt a new pet and came home with their old dog.

Chuck James tells The Associated Press that his family searched for their brown-and-white dog named Reckless for months after the October 2012 storm before finally giving up hope.

“We reported him missing and called the shelters periodically, just hoping they had him,” James said Saturday. “We always kept our hopes up, but eventually it’s time to move on.”

James said the family had planned in recent weeks to get a new dog as a 10th birthday surprise for their eldest daughter, Ally.

But when the family of five went to the Monmouth County SPCA on Thursday to adopt a new animal, James and his wife approached the first cage and saw a familiar face inside.

“He was a little bigger than I remembered because they had fed him well,” James joked. “But then he was laying on my wife’s feet, and I knew it was him. … I was in disbelief. I know this dog is meant to be with our family.”

When SPCA officials asked if they could prove the animal was their dog, a friend sent over a picture showing the family with their dog before Sandy hit the Jersey shore.

“We’re all so happy to have him back,” James said. “Thank God for no-kill shelters because every time they kill an animal, it’s somebody’s friend who might be lost. Thank God they didn’t put him down because this would have been a different story.”

SPCA officials say Reckless was picked up as a stray and has now been microchipped.

The family is living in a hotel while their storm-damaged Keansburg home is repaired. This weekend, the Jameses went on a camping trip with Reckless to celebrate the dog’s return.